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Pioneering new diabetes partnership with FEND

14/11/2012

On World Diabetes Day the Florence Nightingale School of Nursing and Midwifery has announced plans for a new clinical academic centre for diabetes nursing, in partnership with King’s College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust and Foundation of European Nurses in Diabetes (FEND).

The centre will develop and expand vital research into caring for and supporting people with diabetes, within a Europe-wide network, and is being established with significant funding from FEND.

The prevalence of diabetes is rising rapidly across Europe and the personal and economic costs are huge. In Europe, both common forms of diabetes are becoming more widespread, with type 2 diabetes now affecting young people and new cases of type 1 diabetes increasing at a rate of 3% per year.

Professor Helen McCutcheon, Head of School, said:

“This partnership extends FEND’s existing investment in research and education, which includes the FEND Chair of Diabetes Nursing at King’s College London, held by Professor Angus Forbes. It will create opportunities for developing research in diabetes nursing, building the evidence base for new approaches to managing the diabetes pandemic. It will also provide opportunities for diabetes nurses and educators to train in research and support for those already active in research to expand their programme of work.”

The clinical academic centre will bring together clinicians and academic staff so that research can be used more swiftly, effectively and systematically to improve healthcare services for people with diabetes. It will create relevant opportunities for developing innovative research in diabetes nursing, clinical practice and education. It will also ensure that diabetes specialist nurses in Europe have access to academically accredited programmes and provide leadership in the delivery of diabetes care and research in Europe.

Deirdre Kyne-Grzebalski, FEND Chair, said:

“Diabetes is an example of a long term condition in which the patient and often the family/carers need to acquire the skills to manage the disease. Healthcare systems need to continuously develop new ways of assisting people to acquire and practice such skills. Whole communities also need to engage in prevention strategies.”

Anne-Marie Felton, FEND President, said:

“We recognise the importance of research and education in diabetes care. This new investment will support the creation of new research posts to work with Professor Forbes and the multi-disciplinary clinical diabetes team at King’s, and they will develop projects of major importance to the well-being of people with diabetes across Europe.”